Garments having inside printing viewable when a portion of the garment is flipped

ABSTRACT

A garment configured to be worn by a wearer that has a hidden message exposed by flipping a portion of the garment. The garment can include an outwardly facing surface configured to be visible when the garment is worn in a first state on a body of the wearer. The first state can represent a standard manner for the wearer to wear the garment in public. The garment can include at least one hidden surface comprising a hidden message. The hidden message can be one that is not visible when the garment is worn in the first state. The hidden message can be visible when the garment is worn is a second state. The second state can represent a state where at least a portion of the garment is being flipped.

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No.61/258,318 entitled “SHIRTS HAVING INSIDE PRINTING VIEWABLE WHEN A FRONTSHIRT TAIL IS FLIPPED”, filed Nov. 5, 2009, which is herein incorporatedby reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The field of the disclosure relates to the field of clothing, and morespecifically, to garments having inside printing viewable when a portionof the garment is flipped.

Garment items such as t-shirts are often selected by individuals ascasual wear, a fact that is often times taken advantage of bycorporations, universities, community and activist groups, and the like.Shirts promoting events, brands, personal or political views, and thelike are common place. Thus, t-shirts are often used for humor and toexpress a point of view. This is furthermore underscored by thewidespread popularity of online retail Web sites and storefronts thatspecialize in t-shirts with unique messages and designs.

One drawback of existing message garments is that they are designed todisplay either a single message that appears in the form of writtenmaterial or graphics appearing on the chest area or on the back of ashirt (sometimes both), or require additional materials to selectivelycover/uncover a secondary message or icon. These additional materialscould impede casual wear of the garment item and pose potential safetyhazards.

Other message shirts require a set of two garments to complete themessage; for example: shirts stating “Copy” and “Paste” to be worn bytwins only work in conjunction with one another to convey the humorousmessage. Yet other message shirts do not allow a wearer to discreetly orprivately convey a message to an audience. Instead, in these messageshirts the secondary message can only be revealed in a rather publicnature with no discreet possibility. For example, indicia are printed inthe area of the shirt underarms and can be revealed by the wearer whenhe or she raises his or her arms. This also does not preclude accidentalexposure of the “hidden” message.

SUMMARY

In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, a message garmentcan include a message A that is positioned on the outside facing surfaceof the garment item, and a related, but distinct, message B that can beconcealed and optionally revealed at the wearer's discretion due to itsposition on the inside wearer-facing surface of the garment.

While the first message is affixed to the shirt in a right side uporientation to facilitate easy viewing, the second message is affixed tothe inside front shirt-tail of the T-shirt in an upside-downorientation. This upside down position will ensure a right side upposition once the garment is flipped to reveal message B to viewers.

The first message can contain information, a statement, message, graphicor a question, while the second message can complete the information,statement, message, graphic or answer to the question and, morespecifically, have some relationship to the information of the firstmessage. It should be noted, however that the first message may have acompleted statement, message, graphic or question that would notnecessarily require or demand a second message (a completing part of theinformation, statement, message, graphic or answer to the question setforth in the first message). Thus, it is only determined by the wearer'sdiscretion with whom to share the hidden secondary message thatcompletes part of the information, statement, message, graphic or answerto the question set forth in the first section.

Therefore, the message garment can be worn in a casual environmentwithout any attachments or additional materials fastened to the garmentthus providing an attractive appearance to the garment and allowing thewearer to convey more than one message, that historically has beenlimited to the chest area of the garment, or the back of the garment,both of which are visible at all times on the garment.

The statements, messages, graphics or indicia that are placed in bothdisplay areas may be used to promote, advertise or highlight content ofa commercial, educational, political or personal nature, in a novel andunique way that is both “interactive” and highly memorable. This“conceal and reveal” form of messaging will have a more visual impactthan only having a message on the front chest-side of the t-shirt, whichis always visible. The sudden and unexpected appearance of a message asthe wearer reveals message B by lifting the front shirt-tail of theirshirt and folding it upon itself will prompt most observers to read whatthe wearer is intending to convey.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a message garment in accordance with anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows t-shirt embodiment for a message garment in accordance withthe inventive arrangements disclosed herein.

FIG. 3 is a depiction of a message garment having a hidden graphicalmessage in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a set of depictions of potential examples for additionalgarment embodiments with components that allow inside printing to beviewable when a portion of the garment is flipped in accordance with anembodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, a message bearinggarment (e.g., message garment) can include a printed message on theinside portion, which can be flipped by a user to reveal the message. Inone embodiment, the message can be hidden until or unless the garment isflipped. In one embodiment, the inside message of the garment can be acontinuation of a non-hidden message presented on the outside of thegarment. The hidden message can be graphical, text, or a combination ofboth. Text (or a graphic) of a hidden message can be printed upsidedown, so that it is right-side up when flipped, which enables it to beread easily. In one embodiment, the hidden message can be strategicallyplaced to correspond to a body part hidden by the worn garment, whenflipped in a particular manner. Thus, the hidden message can beproximate to, or can overlay, the corresponding body part when flipped.

For example, a Mardi Gras t-shirt with a front printing of “show me yourtits” can have a hidden message including a graphic of breasts, whichwhen the shirt is flipped the graphic is displayed in approximately theposition of the wear's chest. Thus, the actual breasts of the wearerremain hidden when the t-shirt is flipped, but the breast graphic isshown in an approximately anatomically correct position when the t-shirtis flipped.

The present disclosure is described with reference to the attachedfigures, wherein similar reference numerals are used throughout thefigures to designate similar or equivalent elements. The figures are notdrawn to scale and they are provided merely to illustrate the instantdisclosure. Several aspects of the disclosure are described below withreference to example applications for illustration. It should beunderstood that numerous specific details, relationships, and methodsare set forth to provide a full understanding of the disclosure. Onehaving ordinary skill in the relevant art, however, will readilyrecognize that the disclosure can be practiced without one or morespecific details or with other methods. In other instances, well-knownstructures or operations are not shown in detail to avoid obscuring thedisclosure. The present disclosure is not limited by the illustratedordering of acts or events, as some acts can occur in different ordersand/or concurrently with other acts or events. Furthermore, notillustrated acts or events are required to implement a methodology inaccordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a message garment 110 in accordancewith an embodiment of the disclosure. In its simplest form, the messagegarment 110 can be a single wearable item (e.g., garment item 112)having a single message (Message B 116), which is hidden until andunless a portion of the garment 110 is flipped to reveal the message116. Thus, a user of the garment 110 decides whether to reveal thehidden message 116 to bystanders.

The message garment 110 is not limited to a single item, and in oneembodiment can include more than one distinct garment items 112.Multiple garment items 112 can represent a set of “separates” that areable to be worn together to create an ensemble. Garment items 112 caninclude accessories as well as clothing items. When a set of multiplegarment items 112 are designed to be worn together, the messages 114 and116 of the overall message garment 110 can be placed on different onesof the garment items 112 in suitable places to permit the messages 114,116 to be read by others.

The messages 114, 116 and be placed on the garment items 112 using avariety of techniques. For example, the messages 114, 116 can use ascreen printing technique (e.g., use of a woven mesh to support anink-blocking stencil, screen printing techniques include flat-bed,cylinder, rotary, and other such techniques), can use an embroiderytechnique, can use a dying technique, can use a textile printingtechnique, heat processing or transfer techniques (e.g., iron-on imagecreation), dye sublimation techniques, and the like. A combination ofdifferent techniques can be used for the same message garment 110.

The messages 114, 116 can be textual or graphical in nature. Further,the different messages 114, 116 can be discrete messages or can be aseries or sequence of texts and images that are able to be read togetherin a particular order. For example, a sentence, phase or paragraph caninclude Message A plus Message B, where Message A is the non-hiddenmessage and Message B is the hidden message.

In one embodiment, the images of the messages 114, 116 can be an imagepuzzle, such as a “fold-in” where an initial image is changed, when thegarment 110 is folded. This is similar to the “fold-in” section of somemagazines (e.g., MAD MAGAZINE FOLD-IN) that have hidden messages, whichare only revealed when the pages are folded in a designated manner. Themessage on the garment 110 can be a fold-in, where Message A (114) is tobe partially combined with Message B (116) to reveal a new combinedmessage.

Message 114 can represent a non-hidden message shown on an outsidefacing surface of the garment item 112, when worn. Message 116 canrepresent the hidden message only displayed when the garment item 112 isfolded. In one embodiment, message 116 can be printed on the insidesurface of the garment 112, which is intended to be worn directlyagainst the skin of a wearer. A zero or more messages 114 can be visibleand placed on an outside facing surface of the garment item 112. One ormore messages 116 can be non-visible and placed on a garment item 112.

As used herein, a message garment 110 can be designed to be worn by anindividual (e.g., human), pet, or doll (the “wearer”). The messagegarment 110 may be any form of clothing, such as a t-shirt, sweater,polo shirt, button down shirt, pants, skirts, socks, gloves, hats, etc.in the appropriate size and shape for the indicated wearer. Materialssuitable for the garment 110 and garment items 112 can be cotton, nylon,polyester, wool, viscose, denim, leather, elastane, silk, and the like,as well as various fiber blends.

The message garment 110 as expressed herein can be easily comprehendedthrough example. It should be understood that the examples and specificembodiments (200, 250, 300, 410, 420, 430) presented herein are to beconstrued in a non-limiting manner. That is, the various embodiments(200, 250, 300, 410, 420, 430) shown in the figures are representativeof various species of the genius of the message garment 110, where otherspecies of the genius are contemplated.

FIG. 2 shows t-shirt embodiment 200 and 250 for a message garment 110 inaccordance with the inventive arrangements disclosed herein. Morespecifically, T-shirt embodiment 250 depicts a T-shirt 252 (correspondsto message garment 110) with components that allow inside printing 256(corresponds to message 116 from FIG. 1) that relates to an outsidefacing message 254 (corresponds to message 114 from FIG. 1). That is, instate 260 the T-shirt 252 is being worn normally, in which case message256 is hidden. In state 270 the T-shirt 252 is flipped, which revealsmessage 256. Thus, a “surprise” or hidden overall message can berevealed for the T-shirt 252.

As shown by embodiment 250, the T-shirt 252 can initially present “GuessWhat” using message 254, and can continue with “I'm Pregnant” usingmessage 256, when flipped. In one arrangement, embodiment 250 could beused as part of a campaign for selling a series of related t-shirts 252.For example, the same “guess what” message 254 can appear on a number ofdifferent t-shirts 252, where different hidden messages 256 exist, suchas “I graduated”, “I have a six-pack”, “I′m dumping you”, “I thinkyou're cute”, “My eyes are up here”, etc. Although shown for a t-shirt252, this type of campaign can apply to any type of garment item 112.

T-shirt embodiment 200 is included to provide an example of oneembodiment of the disclosure in which the hidden message 226, and/or 246can be positioned in various positions of the garment item. For example,t-shirt 212 can have an initial message 214 when worn in a default state210, where hidden messages are non-visible. A hidden message 236 can berevealed, when sleeves of the t-shirt 212 are flipped, as shown in state230. An additional message 226 can be revealed when the bottom of thet-shirt 212 is flipped, as shown by state 220. The hidden messages 226,236 can be the same or different messages.

Embodiment 200 also shows a possible “slogan” situation, where a visiblemessage 214 is largely nonsensical when in state 210, yet which has arevealed meaning when the t-shirt 212 is in state 220 and/or 230. Asshown, message 214 can include (“As easy as 3:45”), which is recognizedas a completion time, when hidden message 226 about a marathon isrevealed.

In one embodiment, presentation of the hidden message 226, 236 canrequire an active user action, so that the revealed state(s) 220 and/or230 of the t-shirt 212 represent a temporary or transient state, whichis typically hidden. That is, the hidden message 226, 236 in such anembodiment is meant to be displayed only in an “unstable” state ofwearing the garment 110, which requires an active action on behalf of awearer to reveal the message. This is to be opposed to a more permanentconfiguration (such as messages visible when sleeves are “rolled up”,which can be considered a more permanent arrangement for a garment item112), as use of rolled up sleeves can be a stable choice for wearing agarment. Use of foldable, yet stable arrangements for hidden messages236 is contemplated in one embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a depiction of a message garment 110 having a hidden graphicalmessage 326 in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Morespecifically, the hidden graphical message 326 of t-shirt 312 is meantto correspond to a body part of the wearer, when in a flipped orrevealed state 320.

The first message 314 (non-hidden message) of the t-shirt 312 may have acompleted statement, message, graphic or question that would notnecessarily require or demand a second message 326 (a completing part ofthe information, statement, message, graphic or answer to the questionset forth in the first section). The initial message 314 can take theform of text/text, text/graphic, graphic/text, or graphic/graphic.

For example, message 314 can state “I showed my shirt at Mardi Gras2008”, which is expressed by state 310. It should be appreciated thatmessage 314 does not need a secondary message 326 to complete themeaning This is one way a “surprise” t-shirt 312 can be implemented. Inthis example, message 326 that is a graphic representation of breasts,can be shown in state 320. This message plays on a conventional MardiGras line/event, which makes the hidden message 326 cohesive with theinitial message 314, meaning that message 326 completes or is related tomessage 314, even though message 314 appears to be a complete renditionof the message available via the t-shirt 312, when worn in state 310.

FIG. 4 is a set of depictions of potential examples for additionalgarment embodiments with components that allow inside printing (hiddenMessage B) to be viewable when a portion of the garment is flipped (awayfrom the wearer's body) in accordance with an embodiment of thedisclosure.

Garment embodiments 410, 420, 430 all have a combination of animmediately viewable message 414, 424, 434 and an obscured andselectively revealed message 416, 426, 436. The garment item 412, 422,432 differs in each instance and is utilized in order to illustratefurther possible embodiments in accordance with the disclosure.

More specifically, in one embodiment 410, the message garment 110 can bea pair of socks 412. The socks 412 can take the shape of short socks,long socks, compression socks, sports socks, etc. Materials can betraditional sock materials such as cotton, nylon, polyester, wool, andthe like, or any combination of the aforementioned materials. Message414 and message 416 can be affixed to the sock 412 via silk screening,ink printing, embroidery, stitching, iron on patches, and the like. Inthis instance, an athletic sock 412 donned by, for example, cheerleaderscan carry the team logo as the ever present visible message 414. Uponscoring a goal or winning the game, the cheerleaders may fold down theirsocks to reveal message 416, in this case the text “Score”. This conceptmay be applied to, for example, memorable sporting events such as worldchampionships, NFL, NBA seasons, and the like. The winning team logo maybe utilized as a visible message, along with the final score of thegame, a slogan such as the team slogan, sponsorship logos, etc. as thehidden message, which is only revealed upon folding the garment.

In another embodiment, garment item 112 may be in the form of a skirt422. The skirt 422 can be a humorous item with the visible message 424displaying the word “Nice” along the hem of the skirt. Folding up thehem of the skirt (essentially making it shorter) can in this embodimentreveal otherwise hidden message 426, the word “Naughty.” As such themessages 424 and 426 present a play on the American holiday season andcan even be utilized in a costume.

In yet another embodiment, the garment item can be a hat/ski mask 432with visible message 434 “Disguise.” Upon the wearer flipping down thehat rim, message 436 appears, which is a graphic of a carnival mask,Zorro mask, or other such mask. In one embodiment, the hat 430 caninclude eyeholes to make the hat/ski mask disguise effective. These“eyeholes” position can be coordinated with the position of message 434so as to not impede the effect of hidden message 434.

The description shown above presents details for various embodiments ofthe present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of theinvention. Any equivalent variations or modifications without departingfrom the spirit disclosed by the present invention should be included inthe appended claims.

1. A garment configured to be worn by a wearer that has a hidden messageexposed by flipping a portion of the garment, said garment comprising:an outwardly facing surface configured to be visible when the garment isworn in a first state on a body of the wearer, wherein said first stateis a standard manner for the wearer to wear said garment in public; andat least one hidden surface comprising a hidden message, wherein thehidden message is not visible when the garment is worn in the firststate, wherein the hidden message is visible when the garment is worn isa second state, wherein the second state represents a state where atleast a portion of the garment is being flipped.
 2. The garment of claim1, wherein the garment is a t-shirt, wherein the hidden message iswritten on the reverse side of the front of the t-shirt, and wherein thesecond state is a state where the front of the t-shirt is flippedupwards away from a body of the wearer.
 3. The garment of claim 1,wherein the garment is a skirt, wherein the hidden message is written onthe reverse side of the skirt, and wherein the second state is a statewhere either the front or the back of the skirt is being flipped upwardsaway from a body of the wearer.
 4. The garment of claim 1, wherein thegarment is a hat, wherein the hidden message is written on the reverseside of the hat and is in the shape of a mask, wherein the second stateis a state where the brim of the hat is flipped down over a front of theface of the wearer, which reveals the mask, which is positioned over atopmost portion of the wearer's face when in the second state.
 5. Thegarment of claim 1, wherein the hidden message is an image of a bodypart, wherein the image of the body is approximately on top of the bodypart it portrays, when the garment is in the second state.
 6. Thegarment of claim 1, wherein the first surface comprises a visiblemessage, which is viewable when the garment is worn in the first state.7. The garment of claim 6, wherein the visible message comprises text,and wherein the hidden message comprises text, wherein the hiddenmessage is semantically related to the visible message and is designedto be read after the text of the visible message is read.
 8. The garmentof claim 6, wherein the visible message comprises a text in a form of aquestion, and wherein the hidden message comprises an answer to thequestion.
 9. The garment of claim 6, wherein a meaning of the visiblemessage changes once the hidden message is revealed.
 10. The garment ofclaim 1, wherein the garment is an article of clothing for a pet,wherein the pet is the wearer of the garment.
 11. The garment of claim1, wherein the garment is an article of clothing for a doll, wherein thedoll is the wearer of the garment.
 12. A shirt comprising: a hiddenmessage printed up-side down on the reverse side of the front of theshirt, wherein said hidden message is revealed when a wearer of theshirt lifts the front of the shirt upwards away from a body of thewearer.
 13. The shirt of claim 12, further comprising: a front-sidemessage presented on the front of the shirt, which is visible when theshirt is worn normally on the body of the wearer, wherein the hiddenmessage is semantically related to the front-side message.
 14. The shirtof claim 13, wherein the front-side message asks a question, and whereinthe hidden message answers the question.
 15. The shirt of claim 13,wherein the front side message comprises a front graphic image, whereinthe hidden message comprises an inside graphic image, wherein the insidegraphic image obscures part of the front graphic image when the shirt islifted away from the body of the wearer so as to form a new cohesivecomposite image formed from a portion of the front graphic image and theinside graphic image.
 16. The shirt of claim 13, wherein the front sidemessage is obscure and lacks meaning, which is clarified when the hiddenmessage is revealed.
 17. The shirt of claim 12, wherein said shirt ispet shirt designed to be worn by a pet.
 18. The shirt of claim 12,wherein the shirt is a shirt of a doll.
 19. A clothing ensemblecomprising: a plurality of different garment items designed to be wornon a human body together, wherein at least two of the different garmentitems comprise: an outwardly facing surface configured to be visiblewhen the garment item is worn in a first state on the human body,wherein said first state is a standard manner for wearing the garmentitem; and at least one hidden surface comprising a hidden message,wherein the hidden message is not visible when the garment item is wornin the first state, wherein the hidden message is visible when thegarment is worn is a second state, wherein the second state represents astate where at least a portion of the garment is being flipped outwardlyaway from the human body; wherein hidden messages of the at least twodifferent garment items are related to each other and reveal a cohesiveexpression when exposed in conjunction with each other.
 20. The clothingensemble of claim 19, wherein at least one of the two different garmentitems is a shirt, wherein the hidden message for the shirt is printedupside down on the reverse side of the front of the shirt.